Extended TSA security lines at major U.S. airports, combined with rising spring break demand, are disrupting air travel as a partial government shutdown enters its fourth week. TSA officers, deemed essential, continue working without pay, facing their first full missed paycheck on March 14 after a partial one on February 28. About 61,000 employees are affected, leading to staffing shortages and increased absences.
Hardest hit airports include Houston’s William P. Hobby, where lines exceeded three hours on March 8 and 9, prompting advisories to arrive four to five hours early. Louis Armstrong New Orleans International reported up to two-hour waits on March 9, later improving to 15 minutes to one hour; passengers were urged to arrive three hours prior. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International saw one-hour lines on March 8 due to staffing issues and ground stops. George Bush Intercontinental in Houston noted longer waits from fewer open lanes, peaking at 26 minutes. Charlotte Douglas International also faced delays.
By March 10-11, wait times eased somewhat—Hobby at 10 minutes, New Orleans at 15 minutes per MyTSA app, though the app relies on historical data during the shutdown. Airports like Atlanta, Houston, JFK, Newark, Philadelphia, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Denver post live times online. The MyTSA app offers estimates in 15-minute intervals. FlightAware’s Misery Map and Flightradar24 track delays. TSA PreCheck lanes remain open nationwide, subject to staffing evaluations.
Higher March-April travel volumes exacerbate pressures on understaffed checkpoints, with disruptions tied to a funding dispute over Department of Homeland Security operations.